Mourinho fuels Newcastle takeover talks with 'emotional connection' claim

The Magpies’ new owners reportedly want to replace Steve Bruce, and Roma boss is supposedly on their shortlist.

Jose Mourinho admits he has an “emotional connection” with Newcastle United amid speculations suggesting he could take over at the club.

Newcastle United have entered into a new era following the Saudi-backed £305 million takeover of the club. The new owners are ambitious and are understood to be aiming for the Premier League title in the near future.

Their immediate plans reportedly include improving the squad and bringing in a new manager. Some of the names said to be in the frame to replace Steve Bruce are Antonio Conte, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Mourinho.

Mourinho insists he’s “100 percent focused” on his current job but he didn’t stop himself from adding fuel to such speculations.

“On Newcastle, I don’t have anything to say. Absolutely nothing to say,” he told the media, as Sky Sports reports.

“The only thing I can say is that for many, many years, I worked with one of the most important figures in the history of Newcastle, Sir Bobby Robson, and so because of that I have always had a bit of an emotional connection with that city and that fanbase. But it’s nothing more than that.”

The Roma boss added: “I am here, I am really happy to be here. I am 100 per cent focused on the Roma project, the Friedkin project.”